At least six people were injured Saturday in violent protests against the alleged desecration of Quran in south Kashmir’s Shopian district even as police dismissed the incident as the handiwork of rumour-mongers . Eyewitnesses told Kashmir Reader that groups of youth Saturday morning took to streets at Bon Bazar and staged pro-freedom and anti-India demonstrations . Shouting slogans, the protesters hurled rocks and stones on the CRPF troopers and police when they arrived at the spot to disperse them. The forces, eyewitnesses said, barged into the houses of Abdul Salam Naikoo, Abdur Rashid Mir, Mohammad Yaqoob and others at Naikoo Mohalla and ransacked household goods besides smashing window panes of the houses. “The situation took an ugly turn when a cop damaged the cupboard at Mir’s house and tore the pages of holy Quran. This infuriated the inmates, who rushed out of the house with the Quran and reported the desecration to the locals,” Mohammad Irfan, an eyewitness told Kashmir Reader over phone. The news of alleged desecration spread like wildfire drawing crowds from Naikoo Mohalla, Jan Mohalla, Khanday Mohalla, Deputy Commissioner’s office, Gol Chakri and other areas of the town. Loud speaker announcements were made from the masjids urging people to come out of their houses to register their protest. The protesters, eyewitnesses said, carried the torn pages of Quran in a procession and tried to march through the streets of the town. “However, the forces again intercepted the protesters. Angry protesters, mainly youth, pelted rocks and stones on the forces to give vent to their feelings. In retaliation, forces used batons and fired teargas canisters to quell the protesters. This led to intense clashes,” Ejaz Ahmad, another eyewitness said. “The clashes continued till late evening. At least six people suffered injuries in the clashes between forces and the protesters,” he added. One of the critically injured youth has been identified as Mohd Iqbal Mir of Gagran. However, police refuted the allegations that its men barged into residential houses or desecrated the Quran. Station House Officer (SHO), Shopian, Irshad Ahmad told Kashmir Reader that the false allegation of Quran desecration was levelled by Abdul Rashid Mir as his son Aqib and another youth Ubaid had been booked by police for pelting stones on students on their way to Srinagar to participate in the August 15 function . “We have already filed case under sections 121/2013/147/148/336/427 RPC against Aqib Ahmad Mir and Ubaid Ahmad Mir, who hurled stones at the students and damaged public property. In order to save their children, their families floated the baseless allegations of Quran desecration,” Ahmad said. Despite the “propaganda” against the police, Ahmad said, the locals didn’t get carried away and maintained peace in the town. “How can a Muslim disrespect a religious book which he follows? We’ll take strict action against those who enacted this drama to evade arrest. Law will take its own course,” the officer added. A police spokesman said that a case hasbeen registered against “ anti-social elements who tried to spread rumours on social networking sites about the alleged act of desecration, triggering violent protests in Shopian district.” "The Police enquiries found these rumours totally baseless. A case has been registered and culprits have been identified," the spokesman said, adding these culprits are being arrested shortly.
Posted on: Sun, 18 Aug 2013 17:35:25 +0000